Prospector toy



Aug. 7, 1962 P. HRUCZ 3,047,979

' PROSPECTOR TOY Filed Sept. 18, 1961 INVENTOR. PAT/L HEUCZ its Stites The present invention relates generally to a new toy. More specifically, the invention relates to a prospecting toy having a plurality of toy tools by means of which children can play at being prospectors.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new combination toy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and educational toy which can also be made on a larger scale so as to be a useful tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of the character described which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture so as to encourage the wide distribution thereof.

These and other related objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully realized as the description thereof proceeds particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

'FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the invention disassembled;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the device of the invention when assembled; and

FIGURE 3 is a side View, partly in section, of the assembled device.

This invention consists in the parts hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out i in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of the disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings the invention is designated generally by reference character 10. The device comprises a shovel 12 having a head 14 the upper part of which has a width equal to the diameter of metal or plastic pan 16. Shovel 12 has a handle 18 having a semicircular indentation 20 adapted to receive the handle of pick axe 22. Handle 18 has a threaded opening 24 in its lower portion, of a size such as to receive the screw 26 of pick axe 22.

As shown in FIGURE 1, pick axe 22 comprises a head 28 having screw 26 integral therewith fitting in handle 30. In its lower portion, handle 30 has a head receiving recess 32, shown in FIGURE 1 and in FIGURE 3. In its upper section, handle 30 has a threaded opening 34 adapted to receive screw 26 therein. As shown the head of the pick axe is generally crescent-shaped. It thus cooperates with the inwardly bent head of shovel 22 to form jaws or holding means for securely holding pan 16 containing folded poke 36 therein when the device is in assembled form as shown in FIGURE 3.

Suitably, poke 36 may consist of a leather bag or of fabric or plastic with drawstrings 38 for closing its open Patented Aug. 7, 1.962

end. Where the present device is manufactured for use as a toy exclusively, the poke may be filled with mineral pyrites to simulate gold or with imitation gems or the like. Similarly, various names such as that shown in FIGURE 1 may be printed thereon as on the other elements. Again in the case where the device is for use as a toy only, only one end of the pick axe head should have a point, the other to be preferably flat as in a standard item, to reduce accident hazards in the case of children.

Obviously, the present device may be made in standard size for use by amateur prospectors and other users of similar tools.

Inasmuch as the present invention is capable of many variations and modifications, the matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, the various handles may be fabricated from plastic as well as from wood or metal. Similarly, the shovel head and the pick axe head may be fabricated from plastic or metal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A prospector toy comprising, in combination, a shovel having a handle, a head mounted on one end of said handle, said handle having an opening therethrough adjacent said head, a pick axe having a crescent shaped axe head, a threaded bolt integral with the center of said axe head, an axe handle having a threaded cavity in one end to receive the threaded bolt for joining the axe head to the axe handle, said axe handle having a recess near its one end and an orifice near its other end, said threaded bolt extending through the orifice and being received in the opening in the shovel handle to join the axe and the shovel, one end of said axe head being disposed in the recess when the axe and the shovel are joined and the other end of the axe head with the shovel head defining a space therebetween, and a poke and pan disposed in the space between the shovel head and said other end of the axe head.

2. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which at least one end of said axe head is pointed.

3. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which said pan is a pan having a diameter equal to the width of said shovel head.

4. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which said poke is a bag of material containing mineral pyrites.

5. A toy in accordance with claim 1 in which said pan comprises a pan having a diameter equal to the width of said shovel head, and said poke is a bag of material containing pyrites stored in the pan.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 576,756 Cole Feb. 9, 1897 1,055,044 Hollander Mar. 4, 1913 1,247,003 Preston Nov. 20, 1917 1,284,752 Neuman Nov. 12, 191-8 

